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Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Turkey out, central Asia In: Where Indian tourists are headed instead this summer
The recent cancellations of holidays to Turkey and Azerbaijan are now leading to increased interest in countries like Kazakhstan, Egypt, Jordan, Georgia, and Armenia, as per industry experts. Meanwhile, there are also more enquiries for Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia — many of which are visa-free for Indian citizens — even though some may find the hot weather unsuitable, they say. Despite offering cooler climes, other European countries are not able to gain much traction since Schengen visa dates remain a problem, adds another industry expert. Presently, Indian nationals have to wait several months to get a visa appointment for the most popular Schengen countries — Germany, France, Italy, and Spain — making it practically impossible to travel ahead of the summer holiday season. Over the last 10 days, ever since Turkey and Azerbaijan came out in support of Pakistan in the wake of Operation Sindoor, there has been a sharp decline in visa applications to these two countries, as per Atlys, a visa processing platform. 'We have reported a sharp 42% decline in visa applications to Turkey and Azerbaijan following recent geopolitical developments that shifted Indian traveller sentiment dramatically. As both countries publicly expressed support for Pakistan, within just 36 hours, the number of users exiting the visa application process midway surged by 60%,' said a spokesperson for Atlys. This reversal came after a strong start to the year. In the first quarter of 2025, visa applications to Turkey and Azerbaijan had risen nearly 64% compared to the same period in 2024, they added. Destinations like Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Baku (Azerbaijan) were emerging as go-to options for Indian travellers seeking a balance of affordability, ease, and short-haul flights. Group visa requests, including family trips, fell by nearly 49%, while solo and couple applications declined more gradually at 27%, said the Atlys spokesperson. The data also revealed early signals for the coming season. As Turkey and Azerbaijan lost favour, in the subsequent days, applications to Vietnam, Indonesia, and Egypt rose by up to 31%. These countries, seen as affordable, accessible, and politically neutral, are now drawing attention. Echoing the trend, Ajay Prakash, Chief Executive of Mumbai-based Nomad Travels and Vice Chairman, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality, said, 'The eastern countries and the UAE have seen more enquiries, but the next couple of months are going to be hot months there, so that would play a role.' However, he added that even as demand grows stronger for Europe, the visa situation is a stumbling block. 'This is an opportunity for the Schengen states to invest in processing more visas speedily and increase footfalls from India,' said Prakash. Subhash Goel, Chairman of STIC Travel Group and President of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), says that they have even seen tourists seeking more 'geopolitically aligned and friendly countries,' with Egypt and Jordan replacing Turkey, while Armenia and Georgia are being preferred over Azerbaijan. In 2024, Armenia received approximately 43,672 visitors, whereas 1.24 lakh Indian nationals visited Georgia. Egypt and Jordan are also gaining popularity among Indian travellers, with official statistics showing 1.5 lakh Indians visiting Egypt in 2024 and 70,000 visiting Jordan last year. On the other hand, while Turkey registered 3 lakh Indian tourists in 2024, Azerbaijan got 2.44 lakh. It is expected that a chunk of this number will now be diverted towards Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as well, industry sources say. Goel says some are also opting for the comfort of familiar Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia — even Thailand and Malaysia — despite the hot weather, since their bookings are non-refundable and they have to find a quick, familiar alternative. 'Those who had open travel plans or refundable bookings are either cancelling their holidays for now or looking for Schengen countries with faster visa appointment dates,' he adds. Recently, travel booking portals have reported a notable drop in bookings from Indians for these countries — and a jump in cancellations. Some Indian travel service providers have also stopped offering flight and hotel bookings for the two countries, while a few others are dissuading Indians from travelling there. Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More
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Business Standard
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Travel bodies join hands to revive Kashmir tourism post-terror attack
Tourism associations express solidarity with Jammu and Kashmir after Pahalgam terror attack; hoteliers offer discounts as confidence-building begins Mumbai Listen to This Article Major associations in the travel and hospitality sector have joined hands in an effort to revive the tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir after the Pahalgam terror attack in April. This comes after the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) recently launched a 'Chalo Kashmir' campaign to encourage travel to the region. 'All the major associations have expressed solidarity with Kashmir and the entire tourism industry of the state, and the effect of this (the terror attack) will take some time to wear off,' Ajay Prakash, vice-chairman, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH), told Business Standard.
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Time of India
Flights to Srinagar from Delhi now as low as Rs 4,470, return fares under Rs 6,000
Despite reports of skyrocketing airfares, flights to and from Srinagar are still available at reasonable prices, with one-way fares starting at Rs 4,470. On April 24, Google Flights lists a SpiceJet ticket from Delhi to Srinagar for Rs 4,470, while Skyscanner shows an Air India option for Rs 4,506. Return fares are also available at lower rates than some media outlets have suggested. IndiGo is offering a Srinagar–Delhi return flight for Rs 5,892, while a Srinagar–Mumbai ticket is available via Akasa Air for Rs 9,702. Earlier, some media reports claimed Srinagar–Delhi fares had spiked to nearly Rs 30,000. In response, the government has intervened to manage airfares amid a surge in demand following the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of at least 26 people, mostly tourists. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu stated on Wednesday that airlines have been instructed to avoid price surges and that fares are being monitored to remain reasonable. 'Any high fares shown on booking sites may be due to multi-stop routes or premium cabin classes,' Air India clarified in a post on X. Live Events In response to the high tourist demand to leave the valley, airlines are operating additional flights from Srinagar. On Wednesday alone, 20 flights carried 3,337 passengers out of Srinagar between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m., according to PTI. IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Air India have added a total of seven extra flights, including: IndiGo 6E 3203 (Dep: 17:00, Arr: 18:00) IndiGo 6E 3103 (Dep: 18:00, Arr: 19:30) SpiceJet flight at 22:30 A passenger assistance control room has also been set up at Srinagar Airport. Free food and water are being distributed, and an additional tent has been erected for waiting passengers. Waivers and Refunds in Place All major airlines have introduced waivers for cancellations and rescheduling: IndiGo is offering full refunds and rescheduling waivers for all flights to/from Srinagar until April 30. Air India is offering complimentary rescheduling and full refunds for bookings on Srinagar routes through April 30. SpiceJet is offering waivers for changes and cancellations on tickets booked by April 22 for travel until April 30. Akasa Air and Air India Express are also offering full refunds and flexible rescheduling options for travel to/from Srinagar between April 23–30. Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed airlines to increase capacity and ensure uninterrupted connectivity to evacuate tourists from Srinagar. Travel industry leaders, including TAFI President Ajay Prakash, acknowledged the immediate impact on tourism in Jammu & Kashmir but expressed optimism about a swift recovery.
